Winter is coming but these festivals and events are not scared - in fact they are embracing the winter chill and making it into memorable experiences for the community
With the end of the financial year approaching and the tax man waiting in the wings, let’s strap in for a history lesson. Back in Ancient Rome, there was this Emperor dude named Nero. Now, at the time there were urine collectors who would roam (that’s right) about public bathrooms to recover deposits as the ammonia-rich content was beneficial in the production of wool, tanning, washing togas for frat parties and the whitening of teeth. The Emperor thought to himself, ‘something is amiss, ah yes, a tax on piss’. And so he imposed uectigal urinae, a tax on urine.
Vespasian would later reinstitute it. One day his son, Titus, was like, ‘daaaaAAAaad, I don’t like this tax urine. It’s disgusting. And all my friends keep calling me pee-pee.’ It was here that ol’ Vespy apparently placed a coin underneath his son’s nose and asked as to whether he was bothered by its smell. No, was his response. This would give way to the expression pecunia non olet, meaning money does not stink.
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Enjoy your June festivals…
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White Night Ballarat
Ballarat – June 1
Run to me through the white night
Inspired by the international Nuit Blanche movement, White Night found its way to Melbourne in 2013. 300,000 people would enjoy the wonders of the city at night. In 2017, Ballarat joined the party. The fun after the sun is done will deliver a program of visual arts, ceremony, lasers, light installations, music, projection, sculpture, urban collage, digital screen, film and more.
More through https://whitenight.com.au/ballarat/program/
Rising
Melbourne – June 1-16
Come on up for the rising
New art, music and performance will fill the city’s streets, car parks, churches, town square and beloved venues to take people away from the doom and gloom in favour of things that bloom. The program includes The Black Infinite (art installation/film), 24 Hour Rock Show (music/film), Counting and Cracking (theatre), Day Tripper (music), Suhani Shah (theatre/performance), Crip Rave Theory (music/participation), One Single Action (dance), Pay the Rent (art installation), Eclipse (theatre), Night Trade (music/exhibition) and Burnout Paradise (theatre/performance).
More through https://2024.rising.melbourne/
Valhalla Black & Blues Festival
Valhalla Taproom, Geelong – June 7-9
Pour me a glass of cold, dark beer
With ten dark beers on tap from which to choose, it’s time to embrace the cold as Valhalla delivers its annual feast of dark beers and live music.
More through https://www.valhallabrewing.com.au
Castlemaine Jazz Festival
Castlemaine – June 7-9
Take some skins, jazz begins
There are two kinds of music, said legendary jazz pianist, composer and band leader Duke Ellington. Good music, and the other kind. And here jazz buffs have plenty of the good stuff. Your line-up is The Anticlinal Fold, Steamboat Whistlers, Rebecca Barnard, ade ishs & eMotion band, Meg Corson & Cam Scott, the Winfield Road Experiment, Vince Jones, Pippa Wilson with Jazz Notes, High Society Jazz Orchestra, King Stone, Funk Junkies, Jade Kerber, Harry Coulsons Blue Dogs, Brooklyn ’86, The Clunk Orchestra, Red Sand Big Band and more.
More through https://www.castlemainejazzfestival.com.au/
National Celtic Folk Festival
Portarlington – June 7-10
I’m so Celtic, he’s so Celtic, you’re so Celtic, we’re all so Celtic
The National Celtic Folk Festival isn’t just about music. It is decades of tradition, culture and community celebration. In short, it’s a solid craic. Your line-up is The Lumber Jills, Wynton Moore, Orlaith McAuliffe, Half Light, Shane Howard, The Maes, Siobhan Owen, Rich Davies, The Boylan Band, Katankin, Fiona Ross & Shane O’Mara, The Freewheeler, The Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers, Maria Forde, Trioc, Daisy Kilbourne, Claymore, Claddagh, Saoirse and more.
More through https://www.nationalcelticfestival.com/
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Woodend Winter Arts Festival
Woodend – June 7-10
Oh, notch by notch, winter by winter
While your favourite winter woolly is a must, for more than two decades the Woodened Winter Arts Festival has aimed to chase away the winter blues by igniting the soul with a series of thought-provoking performances and events. On the music side of things, you have the likes of the Melbourne Cello Octet, pianist Paul Grabowsky, flamenco duo Paco Lara and the Fiore Vocal Ensemble. Their Words & Ideas series, meanwhile, includes a conversation between composer and broadcaster Andrew Ford and Festival Director Jacqueline Ogeil and a conversation between evolutionary geneticist and singer Professor Jenny Graves and ABC Science Show’s Robyn Williams.
More through https://woodendwinterartsfestival.org.au/
Mornington Winter Music Festival
Mornington – June 7-10
In winter fire is beautiful, beautiful like music
They’ll be on street corners, they’ll fill bars and restaurants and band rooms left, right and centre. Wherever you turn, there will be a talented muso doing their thing at the tenth annual Mornington Winter Music Festival. Your line-up includes CC Goons (featuring members of Clowns), The Hoodoo Men, Nick Green, Jimmy Phoenix, Eve Ward (album launch), Down South Big Band and a whole stack more. You also have the MP Rising Stars showcase featuring Ed Moon, Inanna Indigo, Holly Hebe and Taylah Carroll. And if you’re looking for some new vinyl, the record fair is for you.
More through https://morningtonmusicfestival.com.au/
Subculture
Melbourne Showgrounds – June 8
I’m in a trance and the world is spinning
When you’re caught in a trance, all you can do is dance. Following last year’s sold-out event, Subculture returns for another round. Your line-up includes Aly & Fila, Key4050, Sam Jones, Danny Avila, Yoshi & Razner presents Genesis, Lostly B2B Paul Denton, Factor B, John O’Callaghan, Bryan Kearney presents Karney and Jonnie B.
More through https://megatix.com.au/events/subculture-festival-melbourne-2024
Lettuce Fest 3
The Eastern, Ballarat on June 8
Lettuce, crunch and crisp, got a bunch on my lips
I walked down to the mailbox the other day and saw a snail happily munching away. I asked what he was up to and he said, oh, you know, just eating some lettuce. Get sweaty with Lettuce Fest 3 and the meaty riffs of MYSTERY, The Shadow Ministers, Nasal Spray, Lettuce Prey, DDS, Riot After Midnight, Emily Carr, Sleeper Weed and Primitive Deserters.
https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/03b54472-a25d-4865-bc25-7930eb675401
Oz Comic-Con
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne – June 8 & 9
Comic book characters never grow old. Evergreen heroes whose stories were told
Oz Comic-Con is a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and enjoy an adventure into the pop culture world of all the things we love to read, watch and play. Guests include Brian Beacock (voice actor and creator of Acting Dead), Jim Beaver (Supernatural, Deadwood), John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Arrowverse), Melanie Scrofano (Letterkenny, Wynonna Earp), Christina Kelly (voice actress), Emilie de Ravin (Lost, Once Upon a Time), Stephanie Nadolny (voice actress) and Tiya Sircar (The Good Place).
More through https://ozcomiccon.com/melbourne/
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Festival of Magic
Kryal Castle, Leigh Creek (Ballarat) – June 8-10
I got the magic in me
Many readers may have learnt a simple magic trick to bamboozle the little ones in your life or the drunkards at a party. At the Festival of Magic, you are invited to dress up and immerse yourself in a world of wizardry with wand-making workshops, spell-casting in the Wizards Tower and potion-making classes. Visitors will also be able to learn about the history and lore of magic and enjoy demonstrations and live performances.
More through https://www.kryalcastle.com.au
CraftAlive
Bendigo Showgrounds, Bendigo – June 13-14
She’s crafty
You don’t have to be able to tell a good yarn to spin a good yarn. Combining hands-on events with world class teachers with craft supplies as far as the eye can see (more than fifty will be present), CraftAlive has all you need whether you’re a seasoned hand or just beginning your craft journey.
More through https://www.craftalive.com.au/events/bendigo/
Castlemaine Documentary Festival
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – June 14-16
Do you feel real? And if so I’d like to know
Real is the key word at the 2024 Castlemaine Documentary Festival, the tenth outing of the popular event. It’s about real stories, real issues, real characters and real conversations. Your documentary line-up includes A Beautiful Moment, Ag Fab: From Paddock to Catwalk, Obsessed with Light, Starring Jerry as Himself, Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande, The Gullspång Miracle, The Koalas, The Road to Patagonia and Apolonia, Apolonia. A highlight is LOCALS, a collection of regional shorts.
More through https://cdocff.com.au/
Warrnambool Storytelling Festival
Warrnambool – June 15 through July 7
I’ve a story to tell and I’m telling it here
We all breathe the same air. And far and wide, wherever you roam, everyone has a story to tell. Embracing this is the Warrnambool Storytelling Festival, a multi-week celebration of music, film, panels, literature and, of course, stories. One of the festival’s highlights is a performance of Rumpelstiltskin by the Warrnambool Symphony Orchestra – only its third public performance. Other events include Letters to Lindy, a play chronicling the times of Lindy Chamberlain, songwriting and visual artist panels and a performance from Neil Murray.
More through https://www.warrnamboolstorytelling.com.au/
Winter Glow
Adventure Park, Geelong – June 22 through July 21
Can you see our city glowing?
What did one snowman say to the other snowman? Can you smell carrots? Ah, it’s getting cold, folks. Soon it will be a sea of puffer jackets out there. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors rugged up in multiple layers. Winter Glow is back. Come along to build a snowman in the Snow Play Area. There is one for all ages, and one for those under five years old (gloves and gumboots recommended). Marvel at 3.3 million lights creating a world of animals, giant toys, enchanted gardens, fairy-tale scenes and more. Or you can simply roast a marshmallow or two until they’re ooey gooey balls of lava.
More through https://www.adventurepark.com.au/winter-glow
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Mould: A Cheese Festival
Royal Exhibition Buildings, Carlton – June 28 & 29
But most of all, I like cheese
No cheese for me, thanks, said hardly anyone ever. Mould returns in 2024, and this time it is bigger. It is smellier. It is more matured. If you are better with feta, if swiss gives you bliss, this is your parma-rama. As well as some 80 varieties, this year will see an expanded roster of independent producers serving up the tasty little things that go hand in hand with cheese.
More through https://www.mouldcheesefestival.com/pages/melbourne-2024
With so much on offer and something for everyone, June is set to be a joyous month!
